Massive DePuy Hip Replacement Recall Affects Georgia Patients

November 08, 2010

Almost one in eight people who have received replacement hips manufactured by DePuy Orthopedics, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, face the prospect of failure of their hip replacement system and the need for painful revisionary surgery. DePuy recently announced a recall of two models of its ASR hip implant device. It is estimated that 97,000 people were fitted with the ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System devices between 2003 and 2009.

The decision to recall the medical devices was based on a new study which confirmed an unacceptable failure rate within five-years of receiving the implant, and the need for revision surgery for about 12 percent for the ASR resurfacing system and about 13 percent for the ASR XL system. Hip replacement surgery is major surgery and hip replacement is typically anticipated to last 20 years. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been helping Georgia families for over 25 years, and represent people injured by defective medical products and procedures.

The victims fitted with these defective hip systems may experience the following symptoms:

Inflammation and discomfort in the hip, groin, leg or lower back

A clicking/crunching sound from the hip area

Difficulty with walking and proper movement of the hip

Elevated levels of cobalt, chromium and other metals in the bloodstream

These symptoms may indicate serious physical problems including the following: (1) cup loosening so the hip does not stay attached to the bone in the correct position; (2) fractures where the bone around the implant may have broken; and (3) dislocation where the two parts of the implant that move against each other are no longer in proper alignment. Even if you have already had hip revisionary surgery involving replacement of the defective medical device, you should seek immediate legal advice from an experienced Georgia defective medical device attorney.

If you received hip replacement surgery, you should also contact your orthopedic surgeon to determine if you received a DePuy ASR hip implant. If you are unsure who performed your hip replacement surgery, you should be able to obtain the information from your primary care physician or the hospital where the surgery was performed. While DePuy has indicated that they will agree to "reasonable and customary costs of monitoring and treatment for the defect," this does not constitute anything close to the full compensation to which a person fitted with this defective hip replacement is entitled. An experienced defective medical device attorney will also seek compensation for your physical pain associated with another surgery and rehabilitation period and any lost wages or diminished earning capacity resulting from damage done by the defective replacement hip.

If you believe you may have undergone major painful surgery only to have a defective DePuy ASR hip replacement device implanted, you should not speak to anyone from DePuy. DePuy is not motivated by your best interest but by the desire to reduce or avoid liability. Contact Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, to consult with a Georgia DePuy hip replacement lawyer. If you or someone you love may have been implanted with a defective ASR hip system, call Montlick & Associates today to see how we can help. We are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. Call us today for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333), or visit us on the web at www.montlick.com. No matter where you are in Georgia, we are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you.

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Please Note:Many of our blog articles discuss the law. All information provided about the law is very general in nature and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Every situation is different, and should be analyzed by a lawyer who can provide individualized advice based on the facts involved in your unique situation, and a consideration of all of the nuances of the statutes and case law that apply at the time.